Every Private Ocean project & Marine Outreach Program gives us the opportunity to share our beautiful Ocean and Marine Education passion at the same time. Over the years, Ocean Project Maui has been fortunate to have the support of passionate Marine Ambassadors & future educators. We are honored to have the opportunity to share our love of the Marine environment with tens of thousands of people, encompassing all age groups. It is very common for Ocean Project Clients to become lifelong supporters, and friends. In Hawaii, we say they become part of our Ohana (“Family” in the Hawaiian Language).

Below, you will read a very special story of an Ocean project Maui Ohana, as recounted from Honuboi’s Mother.

Honuboi's Story

When Jacob Almanza was in 4th grade (@1993), CT and Mel (on behalf of Ocean Project Maui) were consulting with his school on Oahu, Hawaii. During this visit, they asked his class to draw a humpback whale. They were both astonished with Jacob’s artistic ability to capture all the detailed features of the humpback whale, while staying very close to the actual scale. As such, they invited him to come to the island of Maui, for the Ocean Project’s Summer Institute program. That invitation began a lifelong connection for Jacob and his family, with the mission of the Ocean Project Maui, to educate others about protecting our honu (green sea turtle) and kohola (humpback whale). Jacob's first summer institute experience included learning how to snorkel. After that, Jacob began a project of drawing fish identification cards for the Ocean Project Maui. CT and Mel then asked him to draw an entire ocean scene, which would become a vital part of the promotional rack card, best known as “KIDS”. Ever since then, the “KIDS” rack card has been used to promote the Ocean Project Maui programs for kids, kids at heart, and families. As he got older, there were less and less visits to Maui, but he took on the name Honuboi, and the honu as his aumakua. That is Jacob's legacy, as he transitioned to spirit in 2005, and now swims along with CT and Mel in the ocean they all dearly loved and protected.

Jacob’s family became lifelong supporters & advocates of the Ocean Project Maui.